Mum's disgust at theft of water feature from garden of son who died on railway

Jean Ashurst, from Gidlow, noticed the huge stone object was missing from the front garden of her late son Aden’s property on Park Road on around September 3.
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She is particularly concerned by the theft as the water feature was extremely heavy and was concealed from public view by hedges in front of the house.

This has led her to consider the sickening possibility that the stone item was taken by someone who knew exactly where it was and was aware the property was empty.

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Mrs Ashurst said: “It was massive and weighed a tonne. You would have needed at least two men to move it and a vehicle.

The stolen water featureThe stolen water feature
The stolen water feature

“I couldn’t believe it when I walked through the gate and noticed it was missing.

“It couldn’t have been an opportunistic thing. The water feature was behind the bushes so you couldn’t see it from the road.

“My sons are upset. It’s the cheek of somebody dying and then someone going and taking something that belonged to them.

“It’s ridiculous. You can’t have anything now, can you?

Aden AshurstAden Ashurst
Aden Ashurst
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“Aden was a proper gardener, he loved his garden. It was his pride and joy. He was in the middle of building an outside bar when he died.”

Mrs Ashurst is not sure exactly when the theft of the pyramid-shaped water feature occurred as she says she had not visited Aden’s house for several days before the visit when she realised it had gone.

She has asked a couple of neighbours if they saw anything suspicious and is in the process of reporting the theft to the police.

News of the theft has been posted on Facebook and dozens of comments have been left expressing sympathy for the family and disgust at the callousness of the thieves.

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Mrs Ashurst said nothing else had been stolen from Aden’s house and there was no suggestion that the offenders had attempted to get into the property.

Anyone who knows anything about the water feature theft can report it to police on 101 or ring independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.